The Council of State in Ghana plays a vital advisory role to the President, providing counsel on national issues. The Council consists of prominent citizens, including former government officials, traditional leaders, and elected representatives from each region.
Key Responsibilities:
– _Advising the President: The Council offers guidance on various matters, including appointments and national policies.
– _Considering Bills: The Council reviews bills passed by Parliament, proposing amendments if necessary, and providing feedback to the President.
– _Appointments and Nominations: The Council advises on appointments, such as those to the Supreme Court, and nominations for various positions.
Membership Composition:
– Former Chief Justice, Chief of Defence Staff, and Inspector-General of Police
– President of the National House of Chiefs
– Elected representatives from each region
– Eleven members appointed by the President
The Council of State meets at least four times a year and can also meet if requested by the President, Parliament, or at least five sitting members of the Council.
In the Savannah Region about 3 persons so far have publicly expressed interest in standing for the position of Council of State Member
The interested persons will be voted for by reps representatives of Assembly Members across the region.
Date for the voting of the Council of State Membership is not know yet.
Since John Mahama’s government took over, a new Council of State Member will be elected to take over from the old Council of State Member for Savannah Region Chief Kpnagriwura Adam Zakaria a chief from Bole Traditional Area.
The person’s who expressed interest in the Savannah Region Council of State Members include
1. Tingawura Alhaji Seidu Sampson Abudu.
Tingawura Alhaji Seidu Sampson Abudu is a respected traditional leader, an experienced public servant, and an advocate for unity and progress.
As the Tingawura and Chairman of the NDC Savannah Region Council of Elders, Chairman of Gonja Constitution review committee, he brings over 40 years of leadership in governance, education, and cultural preservation.
His vision is to promote unity, preserve tradition, and champion sustainable community development for future generations.
Tingawura Sampson is a Former District Chief Executive for Bole District, 2009–2013,
Regional Director, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for Eastern Region, 2013–2017, Founding member and leader of the NDC.
The second person is
2. Chief Tolodonpewura Abdallah Ahmed popularly called Chief Monor.
Chief Monor has a strong background in community development and politics.
He is a Proven Youth Leadership (District Secretary, Democratic Youth League of Ghana)
Chief Monor served as the West Gonja District Chairman, Association for the Committee of Defense of the Revolution (ACDR) and Progressive Voluntary Organization (PVO), which also made him an automatic executive member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Damongo, Daboya, and Yapei Kusuwgu Constituencies.
He is a Member of Several Boards and Peace Mediator and an Event Manager (Chairman, MC and Event Host)
His collaborative leadership style, good listening skills, and willingness to learn from mistakes make him an excellent fit for this role.
The third person is
3. Bingorwura Samuel Saibu Adam
Bingorwura Samuel Saibu Adam has over 20 years’ International work experience with multinational mining companies in the fields of Accounting & Finance and in the management of Community Development programs; and also as a manager of mining related quasi-government organizations. He is currently the Executive Director of Integrity and Excellence Limited, a Management and Financial Consultancy firm based in Accra, Ghana.
He holds an MBA from Fordham University, New York, and a BSc. Administration degree from the University of Ghana. He is also a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GMAICD).
He has served on the Board of Directors of a number of both public and private sector institutions both here in Ghana and overseas; including the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), on which he served as the Finance Expert, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the board. He was the first and only Ghanaian to have served on the board of FARA.
Bingorwura has also served as the Technical Intervention Officer for the Center of the Development of Enterprise (CDE) in Ghana. He also served as an expert panel in Mining Sector Governance in Africa under the Australian-Africa Partnership facility (AAFP).
Bingorwura has over twenty (20) years work experience at management and senior management level in major international mining companies and mine related quasi-government institutions overseas in which he was responsible for the implementation of important and critical government intervention programs geared towards providing the visible benefits of mining to communities impacted by mining operations. These include the implementation of Tax Credit Scheme projects, distribution of Mining Royalties, and management of other mine derived benefits to mine impacted communities. He also have ten years experience in the management of economic, social and infrastructure development programs and over 12years experience as an accountant in mining impacted communities of Papua New Guinea and also as an accountant in Ghana.
Bingorwura worked as a consultant with the then Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) . Since 2015, he has been part of a team that conducts annual assessments of the performance of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembles (MMDs) across the country, using the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) and also the Monitoring and Verification of Performance Contracts between Regional Ministers & Regional Coordinating Directors and the Chief Executives and Coordinating Directors of MMDAs of their respective regions.
Bingorwura is one of the main architects of the petition for the establishment of the Savannah region
He is working assiduously with others for the affirmation of Gonja boundaries and the writing of the new Gonja Constitution.
So far these are the names that popped up but unconfirmed information reaching Spear FM says that Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi (I) is also eying the Savannah Region Council of State Member position. As and when we get confirmation that Mankpanwura is interested, we will duly update our listeners.
